The department's business price delivery manager Bryan Downes said it was not unexpected. “We’ve recently seen average wages in the construction industry increase, increases in the number of people employed in the construction industry, as well as near-record levels of residential building consents.'’ Supplied Kelvin Davidson: People are turning to building a home because there are few to buy. Some of the price rises were potentially due to shipping congestion, the chief executive of PlaceMakers, Bruce McEwen, said. “Many industries in New Zealand are experiencing supply chain and freight issues due to shortages and delays in shipping capacity, container availability and port space.